Beer Briefs: New cans, new brewery

Cape Cod Beer turned 10: the Hyannis brewery celebrated its decade of existence by realizing its plan to can some of its beers and by cooking up a new pale ale, Rich Holmes writes

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By RICH HOLMES

capecodtimes.com

By RICH HOLMES

Posted Apr. 23, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By RICH HOLMES

Posted Apr. 23, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

A lot has happened since the last batch of beer briefs back in January:

A Yarmouthport couple is trying to open a microbrewery in Hyannis;

- Pennsylvania's Yuengling went from being absent to being instantly everywhere in the Bay State (watch out Narragansett; they're treading on your regional brewery turf);

Flynn's is adding a third location in Cedarville, right on the heels of opening its second tavern in Mansfield;

- The Cape Cod Melody Tent will produce a beer and music event in August;

- Mayflower expanded its distribution into Vermont;

- Cape Cod Beer turned 10.

The Hyannis brewery celebrated its decade of existence by realizing its plan to can some of its beers and by cooking up a new pale ale.

Cape Cod Beer's Beach Blonde Ale and flagship Red went into the 16-ounce cans, which become available today. Folks from Iron Heart Mobile Canning of Connecticut brought the mobile equipment and assisted Monday with the first few batches.

"It's going!" said brewer co-owner Beth Marcus late Monday afternoon.

She said getting a hose from the bright tank to the canning apparatus and keeping the beer cool "took a little bit of time," but it was worth it, as renting the mobile apparatus makes canning possible without the expense of buying and installing a new production line.

The brewery also marked its 10th year with the release of Birthday Pale Ale. The brew uses two-row, crystal, wheat and Vienna malts and balances the sweetness with Northern Brewer and citrusy Cascade hops. It carries an ABV of 5.6 percent and 30 IBUs.

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From suds to suds: The former Cape Cod Commercial Linen Service on West Main Street, Hyannis, will become Barnstable Brewing Co., if all goes as Peter and Ann Connor of Yarmouthport hope.

Peter Connor is an award-winning homebrewer who has worked for years in the computer software industry. Ann Connor has directed special events for Boston College for a decade. They moved full-time from Needham to the Cape about 4 months ago, but have owned their Yarmouthport home since 2000, he said.

"I've been brewing for weddings, graduation parties," he said, but would like to make his longtime hobby his new career. Peter said his son Mark, who also homebrews, would oversee the daily operations of the brewery. Ann would handle the retail side. Mark will graduate from Creighton College next month, where he has been studying microbiology and biochemistry.

"He's been analyzing Cape water, doing yeast studies" as part of the groundwork for the proposed brewery, Peter Connor said.

The Connors go before the Barnstable Zoning Board of Appeals tonight seeking a special permit to operate a brewery. Peter said he will also seek state permission for a pouring license, so customers could try his beer at the brewery.

The hearing is a continuance from March 26 meeting at which the Connors' application was opposed by neighboring business Steve and Sue's Par-Tee Freeze. According to Town of Barnstable administrative assistant Carol Puckett, Steve and Sue's contended the proposed brewery site is too small, as a facility serving alcohol would be too close to a business serving families, and had a loading dock that backed up to an easement.

Peter Connor said Saturday he believed the ice cream shop and brewery could benefit each other by attracting more customers to the area.

The Connors have purchased a half-barrel brewhouse from Tree House Brewing in Monson, with which to start their operation. They aim to eventually get a brewhouse in the "10-, 15- or 20-barrel range," Peter said.

"The goal is to have people pick up a growler, do a tasting," he added.

Peter said the lineup of beers will depend on customer reaction, but would likely include an IPA and a darker brew, plus more experimental single releases or "one-offs."

"We will have a barrel-aging program," he said, and will be self-distributed, like the Cape's sole operating brewery.

"I honestly believe in my heart that we are not competitive to Cape Cod Beer," Peter said. "I firmly believe that there's room for 5 or 6 more breweries on Cape Cod."

"We wish the folks at Barnstable Brewing the best of luck," said Beth Marcus, co-owner of Cape Cod Beer, on Monday. "It's an extremely competitive market, and we know how hard it is to get started."

Connor said if his family is unable to secure permits to brew in Hyannis, they may pursue their dream elsewhere.

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Plymouth's Mayflower also is marking a milestone: five years of operation. They, too, cooked up some new limited edition beers for the occasion — a pilsner and a saison. The single batch of pilsner will be available only in kegs in Massachusetts, and it uses a new hop variety called Mandarina. The saison employs pilsner, Munich and wheat malts and combines them with Styrian Goldings hops, but much of the spicy flavor comes from the farmhouse yeast. It has a 6 percent ABV.

Some of the saison will become a flavor experiment, as it will be aged in red wine barrels with two different strains of Brettanomyces, a wild yeast that imparts sour and funky flavors. A release date has not been set, but the results will only be available in Mayflower's tasting room.

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A group of macro and microbrewers will be represented at the first annual Melody Tent Brewers Festival, said Deanna Lohnes, marketing director for the Cape Cod Melody Tent. The event will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Aug. 10, and a $30 ticket will provide entry and cover the cost of tastings. Food will be sold at concession stands and Entrain and the Adam Ezra Group will perform.

"We just thought it would be a great thing to try," Lohnes said. "We're really excited."

Lohnes was unable to cite the number of brewers lined up, but she said 128 varieties of beer would be available. Stay tuned for details as the event draws closer.